Buckingham Palace: The Royal Mews Entrance Ticket

The most striking part of the Royal Mews is the chance to stand close to the coaches used for coronations, state occasions, and royal journeys. The Gold State Coach, used at every coronation since 1831, is the grand prize, but the Diamond Jubilee State Coach and the surprisingly modern Australian State Coach add plenty of interest.

I like the way the visit connects ceremony with working life. You see polished harness, practical stables, and the horses trained to pull the royal carriages, not just distant objects behind glass. I also like the easy, self-paced format and the clear multimedia guide, which works well for adults and children.

The main limitation is scope: this is a visit to the Royal Mews, not a full Buckingham Palace tour. Only a small number of horses may be present, and you may not be able to approach them closely. Keep that distinction clear when booking.

Key points to know before you go

• The Gold State Coach is the centerpiece: It has carried monarchs at coronations since William IV and was used for King Charles III’s coronation in 2023.
• The Royal Mews is still a working stable: It manages road transport for the King and Royal Family by horse-drawn carriage and motor car.
• The horse viewing can be limited: Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays are trained here, but only some horses may be in view on the day.
• The visit is self-paced: Your ticket includes a handheld multimedia tour in English, Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Russian.
• Plan roughly 1 to 2 hours: The ticket is valid for one day, but this is a focused attraction rather than an all-day palace visit.
• Bring very little: Security checks are airport-style, and there is no cloakroom for large bags, pen-knives, or scissors.

What the Royal Mews actually is

The Royal Mews is not a display of old carriages arranged in a quiet museum. It is the working transport center for the King and Royal Family. Its staff prepare horse-drawn vehicles and motor cars for official duties, while the stables train the Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays that pull the royal coaches.

That working role gives the visit its character. You are looking at vehicles that still have a job, not only historic pieces that have been retired. The setting also explains why the visit feels more practical than the grand rooms inside Buckingham Palace.

The Mews handles road travel by both carriage and motor car. The collection therefore tells two stories at once: the formal pageantry of royal occasions and the less glamorous business of keeping horses, harness, vehicles, and staff ready for use.

If you are expecting Buckingham Palace state rooms, adjust your plans. This ticket does not include the main palace interior, and it cannot later be converted into a one-year pass. The attraction works best as a focused stop near Buckingham Palace, especially for anyone interested in ceremonial transport, horses, or royal traditions.

Starting at Buckingham Palace Road

Your visit begins by exchanging your voucher at the ticket office, then proceeding to the visitor entrance on Buckingham Palace Road. Allow extra time for this step. The ticket collection process can be slow, especially when staff must transfer details from an agent voucher into the Royal Mews system.

Once inside, you and your belongings go through airport-style security. The simplest advice is to carry as little as possible. Large luggage is not allowed, and there are no cloakroom facilities for bulky bags, pen-knives, or scissors.

Photography and non-commercial filming are welcome, so you can take pictures of the coaches and interior spaces. Mobile phones are allowed too, but keep the sound and screen use considerate when other people are listening to the audio guide.

The experience is listed as a small group activity limited to 10 participants, but the main visit is not a tightly scripted walking tour. You move through the site at your own pace with a multimedia guide. Some people may also join a family tour or a guided talk, depending on the arrangement that day. Guides including Lynne, Jorge, Phil, and Seba have been praised for adding personal detail and making the history easier to follow.

The Diamond Jubilee State Coach

The Diamond Jubilee State Coach is one of the first major vehicles you encounter, and it gives you a useful lesson in how a ceremonial carriage can combine tradition with modern comfort.

The coach carried Queen Elizabeth II at the State Opening of Parliament on 4 June 2014. Its name links it to the Diamond Jubilee, but its importance comes from its use in a formal working event rather than from age alone.

Look closely at the way old and new ideas meet in the design. A state coach must look ceremonial, yet it also has to carry people safely and comfortably during a long public appearance. The Diamond Jubilee coach helps you see that royal transport is not simply about decoration. It is a carefully designed working vehicle.

I find this coach especially useful for children because it invites practical questions. How does a coach move? Why does it need such large wheels? How do people climb in? The multimedia guide gives enough background to keep younger listeners involved without making the visit too technical.

The Gold State Coach and coronation pageantry

The Gold State Coach is the object most people come to see. Its surface, scale, and decoration make it difficult to mistake for ordinary transport. It has been used at every coronation since that of William IV, Queen Elizabeth II rode in it on her Coronation Day in 1953, and it was used again at the Coronation of King Charles III in 2023.

The coach can look smaller on television than it does in person. Its size, ornament, and elaborate construction are easier to understand when you are standing nearby. You can also appreciate details that disappear on a screen, including the relationship between the coach body, wheels, windows, and decorative finish.

There is a practical catch. A coronation coach is built for spectacle, not speed or smooth travel. Its historical role is tied to ceremony, procession, and public display. The Gold State Coach makes sense when you see it as part of a carefully staged royal event, not as an efficient vehicle.

This is where the Royal Mews earns its ticket price for many people. A palace room can show you where a ceremony happens, but the coach shows you how the monarch physically arrives. It connects the ceremony to the road outside.

Four coaches, four different royal stories

The collection includes several vehicles, and each one gives you a different view of royal travel.

The Australian State Coach is a good contrast to the Gold State Coach. It carried Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace after their 2011 Royal Wedding. It also has central heating and electric windows, details that sound ordinary in a modern car but are surprising in such a formal coach.

That contrast is worth your attention. Royal transport can look ancient from the outside while including practical features designed for comfort. The Australian State Coach shows how ceremonial travel has adapted without abandoning its formal appearance.

The Irish State Coach was purchased by Queen Victoria in 1852. Queen Victoria, King George VI, and Queen Elizabeth II all used it for travel to the State Opening of Parliament. Its story gives the visit a strong link to several generations of royal public life.

The coaches are close enough for you to study their construction and decoration. Several people particularly enjoy this chance to see the vehicles at close range, since television cannot show their true scale or surface detail. Photography is permitted, so take time to look rather than rushing from one display to the next.

Meeting the Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays

The Royal Mews is responsible for training the Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays, the horses that draw the royal carriages. Seeing the coaches without seeing the horses would leave out half the story, so the stable area adds real value.

The horses are not guaranteed to be on view in large numbers. On some visits, you may see only two horses, and you may not be able to walk right up to the stalls. Treat the horse area as a possible extra rather than the main reason to buy the ticket.

When the Windsor Greys are present, they are a memorable part of the visit. Their connection to the coaches makes the displays easier to understand, especially for children who care more about horses than ceremonial vehicles.

The Mews also has an indoor arena and displays related to harness and tack. That practical material helps explain the work behind a formal procession. It shows how the horses are prepared and how the equipment must be maintained.

If your main goal is to see many horses or spend a long time near them, this may feel limited. If you want to understand how horses and carriages fit into royal transport, the combination is much stronger.

Using the multimedia guide

The multimedia tour is included with admission and is available in nine languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Russian. The handheld guide lets you stop, listen, and continue at your own pace.

I like this setup because the Royal Mews contains several layers of information. You can simply admire a coach, or you can learn who used it, when it was built or purchased, and why it mattered. The guide gives families a shared structure without forcing everyone to walk at the same speed.

The family material is also a useful feature. A guide can keep a seven-year-old interested while still offering enough substance for adults, especially around the coaches, horses, and royal ceremonies.

You may encounter a live guide or family tour as well. Names associated with particularly warm and informative visits include Lynne, Jorge, Phil, and Seba. Do not depend on a specific person being on duty, but a live introduction can add local detail and personal stories to the audio content.

How long the visit takes and who will enjoy it

The ticket is valid for one day, with starting times shown when you check availability. A visit commonly fits into about 1 to 2 hours, depending on how closely you study the coaches, listen to the guide, and find horses in the stables.

This shorter format makes the Mews easy to combine with other central London sights. You can visit it before or after seeing Buckingham Palace from outside, walking through St James’s Park, or exploring nearby royal sites. Transfers are not included, so you must make your own way to Buckingham Palace Road.

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• People fascinated by coronations, royal ceremonies, and historic vehicles
• Families with children who like horses, coaches, or dressing-up themes
• Visitors who want a focused attraction rather than a long guided tour
• Anyone curious about the practical work behind royal pageantry
• Horse enthusiasts interested in harness, tack, and working stables

It is less suitable if you want a full Buckingham Palace interior visit, extensive access to the horses, or a large museum with many rooms to explore.

Is $22.90 good value?

At $22.90 per person, the ticket is fairly priced for a central London royal attraction, especially because it includes the multimedia guide and access to vehicles used in major state events. The Gold State Coach alone gives the visit a clear focal point, while the other coaches and working stable setting add substance.

The value depends on your interests. If you have little interest in monarchy, ceremonial transport, or horses, the visit may feel brief. If you watched a coronation or royal wedding and want to understand the vehicles beyond what television showed you, the close view makes the ticket easier to justify.

The lack of a one-year pass is important. Tickets bought through this booking channel cannot be converted into one. If you need a concessionary rate as a disabled visitor or a complimentary companion ticket, book directly with the Royal Collection Trust instead.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the visit, and you can reserve now while paying later. Those terms help if your London schedule is still changing, but the practical details still matter: arrive with minimal belongings, allow time for ticket exchange and security, and confirm the available starting time.

Final verdict: should you book the Royal Mews?

Book it if you want to see royal transport at close range and prefer a manageable visit with clear historical context. The Gold State Coach, Diamond Jubilee State Coach, Australian State Coach, and Irish State Coach give you more than a single photo opportunity, while the Windsor Greys and stable equipment show the working side of the Mews.

I would make this a particularly good choice for families and anyone who found the coronation coaches fascinating on television. Just keep expectations realistic. You are not booking the full Buckingham Palace, and the number of horses on view can be small.

For a focused, well-priced look at how the King and Royal Family travel, the Royal Mews earns its place on a London itinerary.

FAQ

Is this ticket for Buckingham Palace itself?

No. It is an entrance ticket to the Royal Mews on Buckingham Palace Road. It does not include the main Buckingham Palace interior.

What is included with admission?

Admission to the Royal Mews and a multimedia tour are included. The audio guide is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Russian.

How long is the ticket valid?

The ticket is valid for one day. Check availability for the available starting times.

Can I see the Gold State Coach?

Yes. The Gold State Coach is displayed at the Royal Mews. It has been used at every coronation since 1831, including King Charles III’s coronation in 2023.

Will I see the royal horses?

You may see some of the King’s horses, including Windsor Greys or Cleveland Bays. The number present can vary, and you may not be able to approach the stalls closely.

Can I take photographs?

Yes. Photography and non-commercial filming are permitted. Mobile phones may also be used, with consideration for other people at the site.

Can I bring luggage?

Large luggage and large bags are not allowed. Pen-knives and scissors are also prohibited, and there are no cloakroom facilities. Airport-style security checks take place on arrival.

Can I change this ticket into a one-year pass?

No. Tickets purchased through GetYourGuide cannot be converted into a one-year pass.

Is cancellation available?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve now and pay later is also available.